On 11 June 2026, the European Commission published the third edition of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) Guidelines (SUMP 3.0) together with a new SUMP Reference Document on Cycling. At the same time, the revised TEN-T Regulation makes Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans mandatory for 431 urban nodes across Europe, with adoption required by the end of 2027.
For the cycling sector, this is significant because cycling is embedded throughout the SUMP process, rather than treated as a standalone measure. The new guidance integrates cycling into vision-setting, target-setting, investment planning, implementation, and monitoring.
431 major European cities now have a legal obligation to prepare a SUMP under the revised TEN-T Regulation, creating a substantial opportunity for investment in cycling infrastructure, bike parking, bike sharing, bike leasing, and links with public transport.
The guidance reflects newer EU priorities, including the European Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the EU Urban Mobility Framework, with a stronger emphasis on implementation, governance and monitoring.
A companion reference document on Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs) was also published, highlighting how access regulations and cycling should be planned together as part of integrated urban mobility policies.
A major advocacy opportunity. The next 18 months will see hundreds of cities updating or preparing SUMPs, providing an ideal moment to promote:
- company bike leasing within workplace mobility plans;
- high-quality cycling infrastructure;
- secure bike parking and charging;
- integration of cycling with public transport;
- bike sharing and cargo bikes; and
- mobility management measures that encourage cycling.
The requirement for 431 urban nodes means cycling is no longer simply a recommended element of urban mobility planning—it is becoming part of a legally required planning process for Europe’s largest transport hubs.
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